Abid Hamid Mahmud

Lieutenant General Abid Al-Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti (AB-ihd HAH-mihd mah-MOOD al tih-KREE-tee Arabic: عبد الحميد محمود التكريتي‎) (c. 1957 – June 7, 2012) was an Iraqi military officer under Saddam Hussein's deposed regime.

Career

Mahmud began his military career as an non-commissioned officer in the Iraqi Army. He rose through the ranks to Lieutenant General, becoming part of Saddam Hussein's personal bodyguard, and finally, his personal secretary.

A distant cousin of Saddam Hussein, observers regarded Mahmud as being Hussein's right-hand man. He always maintained constant contact with Hussein and acted as a gatekeeper, controlling access to him. He was trusted with Saddam's son Qusay Hussein, in overseeing the Iraqi Special Security Organization.

He was designated ace of diamonds in the US administrations most-wanted Iraqi playing cards and fourth on the most-wanted list after Saddam and his sons Uday and Qusay.

He was captured in a joint raid by special operations forces and the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, in June 2003. At the time it was recognized as the "greatest success" since the end of major hostilities, and a sign that Saddam Hussein might soon be found.

On April 29, 2008, he appeared before the Iraq Special Tribunal set up by the Iraq Interim Government and stood trial with six others including Tariq Aziz, Ali Hassan al-Majid, Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan and Sabbawi Ibrahim al-Hassan.

On October 26, 2010, he was sentenced to death by the Iraqi High Tribunal after being found guilty of organising a crackdown against banned political parties in Iraq in the 1980s and 1990s, including assassinations and unlawful detentions.

On June 7, 2012, he was executed by hanging, according to a spokesman of the Iraqi Ministry of Justice.